News Release Archive

Bighorn River Basin Snowmelt Runoff Forecast

Media Contact: John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@gp.usbr.gov
Mark Andersen, mandersen@gp.usbr.gov

For Release: March 03, 2006

The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyoming, has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the Shoshone and Wind Rivers of the Bighorn River Basin, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager. The March 1, forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff is expected to be near average for the Buffalo Bill watershed, but below normal for all other areas.

The Bighorn Basin forecast indicates inflows from the Shoshone River to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period will be 650,000 acre-feet (AF) (100% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 653,100 AF.

The Wind River portion of the Bighorn River Basin April through July inflow forecast includes the snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 130,000 AF (93% of average), and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 360,000 AF (88% of average). The expected inflows to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period are 500,000 AF (89% of average).

The Bureau of Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in April, May, and June.

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Relevant Link:

Great Plains Region Home Page

Wyoming Area Office Home Page